Cooks Source ~ Breaking Internet Meme + Train Wreck

” This is classic: “To say this has hurt our business is an understatement. But worse, it is harming the very people we are here to assist.”

No sh*t Sherlock. And it’s all on your diminutive organization as you brought it on then fanned the flames with the non apologies.

The internet won. They beat you down like the plagiarizing thieves you are and you have the nerve to complain about hackers when you have no concept, no idea, no clue as to what a hacker really is?

I’m sure that I and others could accept the apology if it were born out the desire to do the right thing rather than being beaten into submission. Or perhaps if it were an isolated incident we could accept the apologies. However, it is not acceptable and the circumstances surrounding your apologies are dubious at best.

You only apologized because you got caught and folks out there did their homework and found repeated infractions.

Update: It looks like the people at Cooks Source have created anew FaceBook page, found here: New Cooks FaceBook Page – and people are continuing the discussion direvtly to the magazine, lol.

An internet flamefest is happening over a small New England cooking magazine ‘Cooks Source’ accused of publishing recipes and articles lifted from the web without permission. Cooks Source, now the newest Internet meme, study in social media and new favorite FaceBook whipping boy has been spreading like wildfire across the web.

Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs is probably regretting sending this email to a food blogger. The Internet firestorm of flames began when Monica Gaudio discovered that Cooks Source had recently published an article written and published on the web 5 years ago titled “Tale of Two Tarts.” Gaudio e-mailed the magazine’s editor, Judith Griggs, to complain, asking Cooks Source to post a public apology on its FaceBook page and make a $130 donation to Columbia School of Journalism.

Exhibit A:

“But honestly Monica, the web is considered “public domain” and you should be happy we just didn’t “lift” your whole article and put someone else’s name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me… ALWAYS for free!”